How about using the Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation method?
Pfitzner-Moffatt (http://themerckindex.chemfinder.com/TheMerckIndex/NameReactions/ONR307.htm)
(http://themerckindex.chemfinder.com/TheMerckIndex/NameReactions/ONR307.htm)
It is a mild oxidation method, that will oxidize primary and seconday alcohols to their corresponding aldehyde/ketone. DCC is somewhat more expensive than just buying formaldehyde, but the method is quite practical, as it runs at room temperature under mild conditions.
If formaldehyde is hard to get, maybe DMSO and DCC are also a little to exotic. But the method is quite useable for many sensitive compounds in general synthetic chemistry.
Regards
Bandil